Swing weight

ABSTRACT

A weighted object has a shaft engagement member having a grip end, a head end, an interior, and an exterior. The engagement member has a channel integral to the engagement member. The channel is disposed within the interior of the engagement member and the channel spans between the grip end and the head end. The shaft engagement member has a slot integral to the engagement member spanning from an open end adjacent to the exterior and a channel end adjacent to the interior.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a swing weight, and more particularly, to a flexible swing weight that may be attached to a golf club, to add additional weight to the exercise device during practice or warm-up.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0004] There are many golf swing trainers currently on the market and they can be broken into a few categories.

[0005] The first category are swing trainers that are not weighted in comparison to an average golf club. Since they are not weighted, they do not communicate to the muscles of the golfer in such a way to break down muscle tension and old muscle habits. Also, they do not develop the correct muscle memory required to produce a proper golf swing. Furthermore, while some of these unweighted devices feel good to swing, they generally cause the golfer to swing the club over the top of the ball.

[0006] Another category of training devices are swing guidance mechanisms such as hoops, tracks, belts and the like that are designed to force the golfer to swing on a proper swing path. These devices are typically quite complicated, difficult to set up, and require a large amount of time to properly set up the trainer for the unique physical characteristics of the golfer. Since it is not a weighted system, they also do not break down old incorrect muscle memory or develop the correct muscle memory required to produce a proper golf swing. Furthermore, these swing guidance mechanisms are typically based on the premise that a golf swing takes place in a single plane. This premise is false, a golf swing takes place in two planes and utilizes a three-dimensional motion which the above swing guidance mechanisms cannot replicate.

[0007] A third category of training devices are weighted clubs or ‘swing weights’. The addition of weight to the club will break down old incorrect muscle memory and develop the correct muscle memory required to produce a proper golf swing.

[0008] Conventional swing weights may comprise a rigid doughnut shaped weight that is slipped over the handle and down the shaft of a golf club to add weight to the head of the club during practice or warm-up. Such an installation procedure may damage the expensive grip of the golf club. Moreover, the diameter of the golf club grip is usually substantially larger than the diameter of the club shaft at a position adjacent the head of the golf club. Accordingly, during swinging of the golf club the doughnut shaped swing weight may shift about the shaft of the club and result in an awkward or an unnatural swing.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,907 to Bouchard discloses a plastic coated string solder that is adapted to be wrapped around the shank of a golf club to add weight. This invention requires that the user meticulously wrap the string solder around the shaft. This wrapping process is cumbersome and time consuming. In addition, the string solder may become displaced from the shaft as the user swings the club. These drawbacks make the use of this device undesirable if the device is to be used as a warm-up prior to a round of golf or if the user wishes to practice with numerous clubs in succession.

[0010] PCT Application No. PCT/US00/35104 to Troy discloses a weighting device that will also attach to a golf club shaft. This weighting device is helically shaped and has a “shape memory” so once deformed it will return to its original form. The user must apply force to the weight to deform it so it can be threaded onto the shaft. The device requires a significant amount of twisting force to engage the weight to the shaft. It is also a cumbersome process because both hands are required to deform the weight leaving the user without a hand to steady or grasp the club. Also, threading the weight to the proper location on the shaft is difficult since the device is designed to grip the club tightly and either both hands are needed to release the tension or a difficult twisting motion must be applied. Once the weight is properly placed, the same difficulties are apparent if the user wishes to move or remove the weighting device. This is a drawback to using the device with multiple clubs or as a warm up prior to a round of golf.

[0011] Thus, there is still a need in the art to develop a golf club swing weight that can be placed anywhere on the shaft of the club, can be readily moved axially of the shaft once it is applied, and is quickly and easily engageable and disengageable with a minimal amount of force or effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is the foregoing and various other drawbacks of the prior art which the present invention seeks to overcome by providing a weighted object for attachment to a golf club. A weighted object has a shaft engagement member having a grip end, a head end, an interior, and an exterior. The engagement member has a channel integral to the engagement member. The channel is disposed within the interior of the engagement member and the channel spans between the grip end and the head end. The shaft engagement member has a slot integral to the engagement member spanning from an open end adjacent to the exterior and a channel end adjacent to the interior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0013] The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components, and wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of a swing weight according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a front and side perspective view of a swing weight according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front and side perspective view of a swing weight according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4,5-4,5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and in the second position;

[0018]FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment taken along line 4,5-4,5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and in a first position;

[0019]FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4,5-4,5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a weighted object for attachment to a golf club is illustrated. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. A weighted object 100 has a shaft engagement member 102 having a grip end 104, a head end 106, an interior (not illustrated), and an exterior 110. The engagement member 102 has a channel 112 integral to the engagement member 102. The channel 102 is disposed within the interior of the engagement member 102 and the channel 112 spans between the grip end 104 and the head end 106. The shaft engagement member 102 has a slot 114 integral to the engagement member 102 spanning from an open end 116 adjacent to the exterior 110 and a channel end 118 adjacent to the interior.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the weighted object 100, may further have a sleeve 120. Sleeve 120 is integral to the exterior 110 of the shaft engagement member 102. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the exemplary embodiment further comprises a strap 122 integral to the exterior 110 of the shaft engagement member 102 or can be integral to the sleeve 120. Strap 122 has a free end 124. The weighted object 100 also has a fixation point 126 integral to the exterior 110 of the shaft engagement member 102 or the sleeve 120 and the free end 124 of the strap 122 is selectively engageable with the fixation point 126. The strap 122 can engage the fixation point 126 numerous ways known in the art, including using friction, a clip, a snap or Velcro®. It is understood that any known selective engagement arrangement can be used to engage the strap 122 to the fixation point 126.

[0022] Any of the embodiments of the weighted object 100 illustrated may have the shaft engagement member 102 made from a deformable material. Additionally, the sleeve 120 may be made from a deformable material, may be of a predetermined weight and may also be selectively removable from the exterior 110 of the shaft engagement member 102.

[0023] The slot 114 of the shaft engagement member 102 may be cut in any pattern. The preferred embodiment of the slot is that the slot 114 widens as it progresses from the channel end 118 to the exterior end 116 of the shaft engagement member 102. However, the slot 114 may also narrow as the slot 114 progresses from the channel end 118 to the exterior end 116. Once slot 114 reaches channel 112, the channel may have a diameter approximately the size of a diameter of a conventional golf club shaft (not illustrated). Also, the width of the channel end 118 of the slot 114 may be smaller then the diameter of the channel 112. The path the slot 114 takes from the channel end 118 to the exterior end 116 does not have to be linear. In an embodiment, the slot 114 traverses a jagged path when the slot 114 progresses from the channel end 118 to the exterior end 116. It will be understood that various changes in the path of the slot 114 are fully intended and contemplated. The path can be sinusoidal, or form a dove tail or puzzle piece (not illustrated).

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the weighted object 100 is illustrated. The sleeve 120 is selectively rotatable about the exterior 110 of the shaft engagement member 102 to obstruct the open end 116 of the slot 114. Another embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5A and 5B. The sleeve 120 further includes a compression element 128 and the element 128 is integral to the sleeve 120. The compression element 128 compresses the shaft engagement member 102 to occlude the slot 114 when the sleeve 120 is rotated about the shaft engagement member 120. FIG. 5A illustrates the sleeve 120 in the open position and FIG. 5B illustrates the sleeve 120 rotated about the shaft engagement member 102 forcing the compression element 128 to occlude the slot 114.

[0025] A key feature of the invention is that the shaft engagement member 102 resists axial movement along a golf club shaft when an axial component of a centripetal force is applied (not illustrated). However, the shaft engagement member 102 may allow axial movement along the golf club shaft when an axial force is applied. Thus, when the golf club is in use and the golfer is swinging the club, the weighted object 100 will not move from where it is placed but if the user applies an axial force to move the weighted object 100 along the shaft, it will move easily.

[0026] Although it is described in relation to a golf club, it is understood that the weighted object 100 of the above invention can be used with numerous other sporting equipment. For example, the shaft engagement member 102 may engage baseball bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, cricket bats, croquet mallets, and pool cues (not illustrated).

[0027] Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or steps which perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weighted object for attachment to a golf club comprising: a shaft engagement member having a grip end, a head end, an interior, and an exterior, said shaft engagement member having a channel integral to said shaft engagement member, said channel being disposed within said interior, said channel spanning between said grip end and said head end, said shaft engagement member having a slot integral to said shaft engagement member spanning from an open end adjacent to said exterior and a channel end adjacent to said interior.
 2. The weighted object as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sleeve, said sleeve being integral to said exterior of said shaft engagement member.
 3. The weighted object as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a strap integral to said exterior of said shaft engagement member, wherein said strap having a free end; a fixation point integral to said exterior of said shaft engagement member; wherein said free end of said strap being selectively engageable with said fixation point.
 4. The weighted object as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft engagement member being made from a deformable material.
 5. The weighted object as defined in claim 2, wherein said sleeve being a deformable material.
 6. The weighted object as defined in claim 4, wherein said slot widens as said slot progresses from said channel end to said exterior end.
 7. The weighted object as defined in claim 4, wherein said slot narrows as said slot progresses from said channel end to said exterior end.
 8. The weighted object as defined in claim 2, wherein said sleeve is selectively removable from said exterior of said shaft engagement member.
 9. The weighted object as defined in claim 8, wherein said sleeve having a predetermined weight.
 10. The weighted object as defined in claim 8, wherein said channel having a diameter approximately th e size of a diameter of a conventional golf club shaft.
 11. The weighted object as defined 2, wherein said sleeve being selectively rotatable about said exterior of said shaft engagement member to obstruct said open end of said slot.
 12. The weighted object as defined 11, wherein said sleeve further comprises a compression element, said element being integral to said sleeve, wherein said compression element compressing said shaft engagement member to occlude said slot when said sleeve is rotated about said shaft engagement member.
 13. The weighted object as defined in claim 12, wherein said slot traverses a jagged path when said slot progresses from said channel end to said exterior end.
 14. The weighted object as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft engagement member resists axial movement along a golf club shaft when an axial component of a centripetal force is applied hereto.
 15. The weighted object as defined in claim 14, wherein said shaft engagement member allows axial movement along said golf club shaft when an axial force is applied.
 16. The weighted object as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft engagement member engages a shaft selected from the group comprising of golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, cricket bats, croquet mallets, and pool cues.
 17. The weighted object as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a strap integral to said sleeve, wherein said strap having a free end; a fixation point integral to said sleeve; wherein said free end of said strap being selectively engageable with said fixation point. 